RE: Climber Stands - Are they difficult to use?
If you get one, practice like you would be going hunting. That is: when packed, go to a tree, undo it, climb the tree, pull bow up and get situated. Then come on down and pack it up. Do that enough to get efficient. Then go out again in the dark and do it. That will get you ready to go. If you have the straight trees, climbers work great. I carry a leatherman that has a saw blade on it for smaller diameter branches if I go someplace new.
Climbers are easy to carry with backstraps and are not hard with a little practice just like any toy. And yes, you can get up quickly, quietly with a safety strap and not break a sweat unless it's warm and humid and had a decent walk to get to the tree.